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Home , Anastacio Martinez, Blaine Boyer, Brent Clevlen, Brent Lillibridge, Charlie Montoyo, Dale Thayer

2007 Governors’ Cup Playoff Preview

For Immediate Release September 5, 2007

Governors’ Cup Playoffs Begin Tonight; Four Teams Vie for 2007 Championship The International League postseason begins tonight in the south, with Durham and Richmond the hosts as the quest for the Governors’ Cup begins. The , who won back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003, return to the playoffs for the first time in three years as winners of the IL South. Their opponent will be the current two-time defending champions, the . Toledo was the first team to clinch a postseason berth after they knocked off Indianapolis on August 26, but it wasn’t until Sunday night that they knew they’d be matched up with the Bulls in the first round. Durham, after trailing Richmond by 10.0 games earlier this year, came all the way back to win the division by 2.0 games over the Braves. The Bulls hold the distinction of being the last team to successfully dispatch of the Mud Hens in a postseason series, having knocked off Toledo in a three-game sweep in 2002. The Mud Hens got back to the playoffs again in 2005, since which time they have gone 13-5 in postseason play. This year, Toledo took seven of twelve against Durham, although the Bulls won four of the last five games. The series begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The other first round matchup will get underway from Richmond, at the same time tonight. The IL North Division Champions, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, will square off against the , winners of the Wild Card entry. Richmond hopes to follow the 2005 and 2006 as Wild Card teams that were victorious in the first round of the playoffs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the IL’s best regular season team at 84-59, hopes to avoid a repeat of last year when their top-regular season effort was followed by a 3-1 first round defeat to the Wild Card club. Richmond and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre haven’t played since May 22, when the Yankees finished off a four- game sweep at The Diamond. This series pits the IL’s top scoring offense (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) against the League’s stingiest pitching staff (Richmond).

Playoff Participants Look to Climb Governors’ Cup List Only one team can win the 2007 Governors’ Cup Championship, giving clubs a rare chance to win the International League’s most coveted prize. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has never won the trophy since joining the IL in 1989, while Richmond, Toledo, and Durham look to climb higher on the following list of the League’s all-time playoff champions. The Braves have a chance to become one of just six active franchises with at least five titles, while Durham and Toledo both look to win their third Governors’ Cup of the decade.

ALL-TIME GOVERNORS’ CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

10 Rochester (1939, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1988, 1990, 1997) 2 Baltimore (1944, 1950) 8 Syracuse (1935, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1954, 1969, 1970, 1976) 2 Charlotte (1993, 1999) 7 Columbus (1979, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996) 2 Durham (2002, 2003) 7 Montreal (1941, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1958) 2 Indianapolis (1963, 2000) 6 Buffalo (1933, 1936, 1957, 1961, 1998, 2004) 2 Pawtucket (1973, 1984) 5 Tidewater (1972, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985) 1 Atlanta (1962) 4 Newark (1937, 1938, 1940, 1945) 1 Charleston (1977) 4 Richmond (1978, 1986, 1989, 1994) 1 Havana (1959) 4 Toronto (1934, 1960, 1965, 1966) 1 Jacksonville (1968) 3 Toledo (1967, 2005, 2006) 1 Louisville (2001) 1 Ottawa (1995)

2007 International League Governors’ Cup Playoff Preview September 5, 2007 Page Two

Breaking Down the Contenders

Durham Bulls The IL South Division Champions enter the postseason with a fearsome pitching staff and possibly the hottest offensive threat in the IL. Charlie Montoyo’s rotation includes IL king J.P. Howell, IL victories leader , and reigning IL -of-the-Week Jae Seo, not to mention 6’9” top prospect . Montoyo’s lineup features the Topps IL Player of the Month for August, Justin Ruggiano, who has .385 (45-117) with 7 HR, 19 RBI, and 7 SB since August 1. The Bulls led the International League in both home runs (146) and team ERA (3.59). Durham has been on a roll during the second half of the season, going 38-22 (.633) since July 1 to overtake Richmond for the IL South title.

Richmond Braves After storming out of the gate earlier this season, the Richmond Braves were able to keep their playoff hopes in tact thanks to a tremendous group of reinforcements from the lower levels of the Atlanta farm system. Several key assets, including SS (.287, 10 HR, 47 RBI), OF Brandon Jones (.300, 4 HR, 26 RBI), and RHP Phil Stockman (1-0, 1.72 ERA) have been promoted from -A to help manager Dave Brundage. Richmond led the International League with a .271 team batting average, while the club’s pitching staff surrendered the fewest runs (554) of any team. The Braves shouldn’t mind playing on the road this postseason – their 40-30 record away from home was the IL’s best mark this year.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees For the second straight year, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre enters the playoffs after posting the IL’s best regular season record. Manager-of-the-Year leads the League’s top scoring offense into the postseason for a first round matchup with Richmond. He also brings with him one of the IL’s hottest in righty Matt DeSalvo, who would have finished 2nd in the circuit with his 2.70 ERA, had he not missed the qualifying standard by less than 2.0 . Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won 43 of its last 64 games to away with the IL North Championship, giving the baseball fans of eastern dreams of the club’s first-ever Governors’ Cup title.

Toledo Mud Hens It was once hard to fathom, but the city of Toledo is becoming a regular host to the Governors’ Cup Playoffs. The two-time defending champions won the IL West Division by 8.5 games, the largest margin in the League. Manager Mike Rojas, filling in this season while recovers from ankle surgery, hasn’t missed a beat in guiding his club back to the playoffs. The Mud Hens look to make history by joining the 1979-81 as the only teams to win the Governors’ Cup in three consecutive seasons. Toledo will rely on its strong pitching staff to make that happen. Righty Jordan Tata has posted a 2.29 ERA in his last three starts since returning from Detroit. He’ll be joined in the rotation by the impressive Eulogio De La Cruz, who started the 2006 Bricktown Showdown for the Mud Hens.

2007 Governors’ Cup Playoffs Scranton/WB Yankees vs. Richmond Braves Scranton/WB won Season Series 5-3

Game One: Wednesday, September 5 @ The Diamond – 7:00 p.m. Game Two: Thursday, September 6 @ The Diamond – 7:00 p.m. # Game Three: Friday, September 7 @ PNC Field – 7:00 p.m. # Game Four: Saturday, September 8 @ PNC Field – 1:30 p.m. * # Game Five: Sunday, September 9 @ PNC Field – 6:00 p.m. * * denotes if necessary / # denotes game can be seen free on MiLB.TV (www.MiLB.com)

Playoff History – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Richmond have never met in the Governors’ Cup Playoffs

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (84-59) Richmond Braves (77-64) Manager: Dave Miley (1st season SWB/2nd Yankees) Manager: Dave Brundage (1st season) Affiliate: Affiliate: Qualified: North Division Champion (+7.5) Qualified: Wild Card (+1.5) Last Time in Playoffs: 2006 Last Time in Playoffs: 2004 Years in Playoffs/Record: 6 yrs. / 16-20 (.444) Years in Playoffs: 21 yrs. / 62-70 (.470) Last Governors’ Cup: N/A Last Governors’ Cup: 1994 Team Batting Avg.: .263 / Team ERA: 3.64 Team Batting Avg.: .271 / Team ERA: 3.97

Probable Starting Pitchers Probable Starting Pitchers G1: RH Steven White (6-4, 3.34) G1: RH Jeff Bennett (3-5, 3.35) G2: LH (5-4, 3.69) G2: RH Blaine Boyer (4-3, 4.30) G3: RH Matt DeSalvo (9-5, 2.70) G3: LH Francisley Bueno (1-0, 2.79) G4: RH Jeff Karstens (3-0, 1.74) G4: RH Kevin Barry (5-7, 4.14) G5: To Be Determined G5: RH Jeff Bennett (3-5, 3.35)

Yankees’ Leaders: Braves’ Leaders: Batting Avg.: S. Duncan (.295), A. Chavez (.291) Batting Avg.: M. Prado (.316), G. Blanco (.282) Home Runs: S. Duncan (25), 3 players with 11 Home Runs: D. Clark (15), 2 players with 10 Runs Batted In: S. Duncan (79), A. Chavez (66) Runs Batted In: D. Clark (69), W. Timmons (52) Stolen Bases: K. Thompson (24), B. Gardner (21) Stolen Bases: B. Lillibridge (28), G. Blanco (23) Victories: M. DeSalvo (9), C. Wright (8) Victories: M. Acosta (9), B. Hernandez (9) : M. DeSalvo (102), B. Kozlowski (80) Strikeouts: K. Barry (83), T. Hodges (81) ERA*: M. DeSalvo (2.70), S. White (3.34) ERA: K. Barry (4.14), T. Hodges (4.72) Saves: J. Brower (21), C. Britton (8) Saves: M. Acosta (12), J. Devine (4) * among pitchers with 80 IP Players to Watch: Players to Watch: INF Angel Chavez – Utility infielder led SWB with 1B Barbaro Canizares – hitting .364 with 20 RBI 125 hits and 62 runs scored. since August 1. RHP Matt DeSalvo – 2.70 ERA; finished just 1.1 IP RHP Phil Stockman – 1.72 ERA in 9 appearances, shy of finishing 2nd in IL. held opponents to .132 avg. 3B Mike Kinkade – Hitting .323 between Iowa, OF Brandon Jones – Hit .353 in first full month Trenton, and SWB this year. in -A this August. LHP Ben Kozlowski – Reliever has notched 80 OF Doug Clark – Led Braves in HR (15), RBI (69), strikeouts in 81.0 IP. and games played (134). RHP Jeff Karstens – has pitched at six levels of SS Brent Lillibridge – Speedy shortstop hitting Yankees’ system in 2007. .287 in 87 games.

2007 Governors’ Cup Playoffs Toledo Mud Hens vs. Durham Bulls Toledo won Season Series 7-5

# Game One: Wednesday, September 5 @ Durham Bulls Athletic Park – 7:00 p.m. # Game Two: Thursday, September 6 @ Durham Bulls Athletic Park – 7:00 p.m. # Game Three: Friday, September 7 @ Fifth Third Field – 7:00 p.m. # Game Four: Saturday, September 8 @ Fifth Third Field – 7:00 p.m. * # Game Five: Sunday, September 9 @ Fifth Third Field – 7:00 p.m. * * denotes if necessary / # denotes game can be seen free on MiLB.TV (www.MiLB.com)

Playoff History – Durham d. Toledo (3-0) in 2002 Governors’ Cup Semi-Finals

Toledo Mud Hens (82-61) Durham Bulls (80-63) Manager: Mike Rojas (1st season) Manager: Charlie Montoyo (1st season) Affiliate: Affiliate: Tampa Bay Devil Rays Qualified: West Division Champion (+8.5) Qualified: South Division Champion (+2.0) Last Time in Playoffs: 2006 Last Time in Playoffs: 2004 Years in Playoffs/Record: 8 yrs. / 27-25 (.519) Years in Playoffs: 6 yrs. / 25-13 (.658) Last Governors’ Cup: 2006 Last Governors’ Cup: 2003 Team Batting Avg.: .258 / Team ERA: 3.62 Team Batting Avg.: .262 / Team ERA: 3.59

Probable Starting Pitchers Probable Starting Pitchers G1: RH Dennis Tankersley (10-7, 4.41) G1: LH J.P. Howell (7-8, 3.38) G2: RH Jordan Tata (4-5, 3.05) G2: RH Jeff Niemann (12-6, 3.98) G3: RH Eulogio De La Cruz (3-0, 3.52) G3: RH Jae Seo (9-4, 3.69) G4: To Be Determined G4: RH Mitch Talbot (13-9, 4.53) G5: To Be Determined G5: RH Jae Kuk Ryu (5-4, 4.04)

Mud Hens’ Leaders: Bulls’ Leaders: Batting Avg.: T. Perez (.309), J. Hannahan (.295) Batting Avg.: J. Ruggiano (.309), C. Richard (.284) Home Runs: M. Hessman (31), R. Raburn (17) Home Runs: J. Ruggiano (20), J. Guzman (16) Runs Batted In: M. Hessman (101), T. Perez (69) Runs Batted In: J. Ruggiano (73), J. Guzman (64) Stolen Bases: H. Mateo (24), T. Perez (13) Stolen Bases: J. Ruggiano (26), E. Johnson (16) Victories: R. Chiavacci (12), V. Vasquez (12) Victories: M. Talbot (13), J. Niemann (12) Strikeouts: V. Vasquez (127), R. Chiavacci (126) Strikeouts: J. Howell (145), M. Talbot (124) ERA: R. Chiavacci (3.39), V. Vasquez (3.48) ERA: J. Howell (3.38), J. Niemann (3.98) Saves: A. Lopez (26), J. Karnuth (6) Saves: C. Orvella (20), 2 players with 5

Players to Watch: Players to Watch: RHP Aquilino Lopez – Posted 2.39 ERA as Toledo’s OF Justin Ruggiano – Topps IL Player of the closer; 26-28 in opp. Month for August. RHP Jeremy Johnson – 3-3, 3.44 ERA in 39 g; OF Jason Pridie – Hitting .318 with 10 HR and possible G4 or G5 starter. 39 RBI since June 23. RHP Eulogio De La Cruz –2006 playoff hero LHP J.P. Howell – G1 starter led IL with 145 returns to starting role. strikeouts in 128.0 IP. OF Andres Torres – Hitting .292 in 42 games since RHP Jae Seo – 3-time IL Pitcher-of-the-Week promotion from Double-A. since joining team in mid-June. RHP Ron Chiavacci – Staff ace could return from RHP Mitch Talbot – Tied for IL lead with 13 W; injury to start G4 or G5. 3rd with 161.0 IP.

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE GOVERNORS' CUP PLAYOFFS ACTIVE PLAYER LIST SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

NORTH DIVISION WILD CARD SOUTH DIVISION WEST DIVISION SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE RICHMOND DURHAM TOLEDO

Manager: Dave Miley Manager: Dave Brundage Manager: Charlie Montoyo Manager: Mike Rojas Coaches: Alvaro Espinosa Coaches: Guy Hansen Coaches: Gary Gaetti Coaches: Leon Durham Gil Patterson Xavier Hernandez Greg Sabat Butch Wynegar 1. T.J. Beam RHP 1. Kevin Barry RHP 1. Steve Andrade RHP 1. Vic Darensbourg LHP 2. Colter Bean RHP 2. Ryan Basner RHP 2. Shawn Camp RHP 2. Eulogio De La Cruz RHP 3. Anthony Claggett RHP 3. Jeff Bennett RHP 3. J.P. Howell LHP 3. Jeremy Johnson RHP 4. Matt DeSalvo RHP 4. Blaine Boyer RHP 4. Calvin Medlock RHP 4. Jason Karnuth RHP 5. LHP 5. Francisley Bueno LHP 5. Jeff Niemann RHP 5. RHP 6. Kei Igawa LHP 6. RHP 6. Chad Orvella RHP 6. Aquilino Lopez RHP 7. Jeff Karstens RHP 7. Buddy Hernandez RHP 7. Jeff Ridgway LHP 7. Anastacio Martinez RHP 8. Ben Kozlowski LHP 8. Trey Hodges RHP 8. Jae Kuk Ryu RHP 8. Macay McBride LHP 9. Charlie Manning LHP 9. Chad Paronto RHP 9. Jae Seo RHP 9. Clay Rapada LHP 10. RHP 10. Zach Schreiber RHP 10. Brian Shackelford LHP 10. Dennis Tankersley RHP 11. Scott Patterson RHP 11. Dan Smith LHP 11. Mitch Talbot RHP 11. Jordan Tata RHP 12. Steven White RHP 12. Phil Stockman RHP 12. Dale Thayer RHP 12. Andrew Graham C 13. Francisco Cervelli C 13. Iker Franco C 13. Raul Casanova C 13. Dane Sardinha C 14. Raul Chavez C 14. Ray Serrano C 14. Michel Hernandez C 14. Erick Almonte INF 15. Wil Nieves C 15. Derrick Arnold INF 15. Wes Bankston INF 15. Michael Hollimon INF 16. Andy Cannizaro INF 16. Barbaro Canizares INF 16. Brent Butler INF 16. Max Leon INF 17. Angel Chavez INF 17. Brent Lillibridge INF 17. Elliot Johnson INF 17. Chris Maples INF 18. Eric Duncan INF 18. Carlos Mendez INF 18. INF 18. Henry Mateo INF 19. Juan Francia INF 19. Mike Rozema INF 19. Jorge Velandia INF 19. Chris Shelton INF 20. Mike Kinkade INF 20. Wes Timmons INF 20. Jeremy Owens OF 20. Brent Clevlen OF 21. Jose Cruz Jr. OF 21. Larry Bigbie OF 21. Jason Pridie OF 21. David Espinosa OF 22. Brett Gardner OF 22. Gregor Blanco OF 22. Chris Richard OF 22. Jason Perry OF 23. Bronson Sardinha OF 23. Doug Clark OF 23. Justin Ruggiano OF 23. Andres Torres OF 24. Jamal Strong OF 24. Brandon Jones OF 24. Jon Weber OF 24.

Regular Disabled List Regular Disabled List Regular Disabled List J. Brent Cox RHP Jonathan Johnson RHP Ron Chiavacci RHP Erubiel Durazo INF RHP Justin Christian OF Kevin Hooper INF OF